Vehicle having an actuating apparatus for a vehicle door, actuating apparatus and use of an actuating apparatus

ABSTRACT

An actuating apparatus for adjusting a first vehicle door which can be automatically adjusted between a closed position and an open position is used in a vehicle. To this end, the actuating apparatus has a capacitive distance sensor for detecting a movement of a person who is in the vicinity of the vehicle, and also has a control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is configured to identify a first door actuation request on the basis of the detected movement, and to trigger adjustment of the first vehicle door when the first door actuation request is identified. In this case, a sensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor is arranged in a vehicle corner region which is associated with the rear of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.15/149,319, filed May 9, 2016; which was a continuation, under 35 U.S.C.§ 120, of international application No. PCT/EP2014/073285, filed Oct.30, 2014; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German patent application No. DE 10 2013 018 838.5, filed Nov.8, 2013; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a vehicle having an actuating apparatus for avehicle door which can be automatically displaced between a closedposition and an open position. The invention further relates to anactuating apparatus for an automatically displaceable vehicle door. Theinvention also relates to the use of an actuating apparatus for anautomatically displaceable vehicle door in a vehicle.

In modern vehicles, in particular passenger cars, increasing use is madeof actuating apparatuses which contactlessly recognize a door openingrequest of a vehicle user and then automatically open the associatedvehicle door. In this case, the vehicle door is often a tailgate of thevehicle, which is designed and provided for reversibly closing the trunkcompartment (also referred to as a trunk door or trunk lid). Theactuating apparatus in this case is configured, in particular, forrecognizing the door opening request on the basis of a movement of thevehicle user. The actuating apparatus usually contains a contactless(e.g. capacitive) distance sensor for this purpose. The measured signaldetected by the distance sensor is compared in a control and evaluationunit, in this case, to a stored reference signal. If the measured signalmatches the reference signal to a sufficient extent, the control andevaluation unit deduces the door opening request and actuates thevehicle door to open. The advantage of such a contactless recognition ofthe door opening request is that the vehicle user has both handsavailable for carrying load objects (e.g., a beverage crate). For thepurpose of recognizing the door opening request in this case, a footmovement, in particular a kick-type foot movement in the direction ofthe rear bumper of the vehicle is usually provided (also referred to asa “foot kick”). In order to enable this foot kick to be recognized withthe least interference possible, the distance sensor is also usuallydisposed in the region of the bumper.

When capacitive distance sensors are used, in particular, metal objectsin the close vicinity of the capacitive sensor electrode can influencethe capacitive detection of a movement, however. Such metal objects arean exhaust pipe or a trailer coupling, for example. Conventionally, thesensor electrodes of the capacitive distance sensors are disposed at asufficient distance away from such metal objects (e.g., being routedaround them in a wavelike manner), and so the influence of the measuredsignal is negligible. In the case of production of the actuatingapparatuses or the capacitive sensor electrodes that is suitable forapplication on a large scale, it is desirable, in particular, to allowfor a preferably high number of identical parts (preferably for allequipment packages of a vehicle model). It is possible however, that theposition of the exhaust pipe (or possibly multiple exhaust pipes) in avehicle model may differ, depending on the equipment package. Inaddition, individual vehicles of one and the same vehicle model can beequipped with a trailer coupling. A specifically adapted sensorelectrode is usually provided for each of these equipment packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the invention is that of improving an automaticdisplacement of a vehicle door.

The vehicle contains a vehicle door (referred to in the following as thefirst vehicle door), which is automatically displaceable between aclosed position and an open position, preferably by means of an assigned(“first”, electromotive) actuating motor. The vehicle contains anactuating apparatus for the purpose of displacing the first vehicledoor. The actuating apparatus in this case contains a capacitivedistance sensor for detecting a movement of a person who is in thevicinity of the vehicle. The person is preferably the vehicle user. Inaddition, the actuating apparatus contains a control and evaluationunit, which is configured (by circuitry or programming) for recognizinga first door actuation request on the basis of the detected movementand, upon recognition of the first door actuation request, triggering adisplacement of the first vehicle door, preferably activating the firstactuating motor, which is provided if necessary, for the purpose ofdisplacing the first vehicle door. In other words, the actuatingapparatus displaces the first vehicle door when the vehicle user carriesout the correct movement (i.e., preferably the movement corresponding toa stored reference movement). According to the invention, a sensorelectrode of the capacitive distance sensor is disposed in a vehiclecorner region of the rear of the vehicle in this case.

Here and in the following, “automatic displacement” is considered tomean that the first vehicle door is moved, in particular, without human,manual intervention. For this purpose, it is conceivable, in principle,within the scope of the invention that the vehicle contains a springdrive or a pneumatic drive for the purpose of the automaticdisplacement. For the case, in particular, in which the vehicle containsthe spring drive for the purpose of displacement, it is conceivablewithin the scope of the invention that the spring drive moves the firstvehicle door only slightly out of the closed position, in which thefirst vehicle door sealingly rests against a closing edge of thestationary vehicle body. In this case, the open position of the firstvehicle door corresponds, for example, to a position in which the firstvehicle door opens only slightly, i.e., is swiveled out of the door lockand rests against the door seal. Preferably, however, the displacementof the first vehicle door is carried out by the first actuating motor.Preferably, the first vehicle door is also disposed in the open positionin such a way—for example, swiveled through approximately 45°-90° withrespect to the closed position, that the inner space of the vehicle isaccessible.

Here and in the following, “vehicle corner region” is considered to meana region which extends approximately 50 cm from the corner of thevehicle in the vehicle longitudinal direction and in the vehicletransverse direction. Preferably, in this case, the sensor electrode isdisposed in a region of the vehicle facing the ground, in particular ina bumper attached at the rear of the vehicle. This is advantageous, inparticular, since the control and evaluation unit preferably detects afoot movement—in particular a kick movement or a “foot kick”—of thevehicle user, and utilizes this to recognize the first door actuationrequest. The sensor electrode is therefore disposed in a region in whichthe expected movement can be detected at a preferably short distance andvirtually free from obstructions.

The first vehicle door is also preferably a tailgate (also: trunk door,trunk lid) provided for reversibly closing the trunk compartment of thevehicle. As is known, when loading or unloading the trunk compartment,in particular, the vehicle user often uses both hands for carrying loadobjects and therefore does not have a free hand for operating thetailgate. As a result of the recognition of the door actuation requeston the basis of the foot movement, the vehicle user therefore does notneed to set down the load objects in order to displace the first vehicledoor (in particular the tailgate), in particular in order to open thedoor.

The arrangement of the sensor electrode in the vehicle corner region hasthe advantage, in this case, that metal objects (such as, for example,exhaust pipes or a trailer coupling) which influence the capacitivedistance measurement (i.e., the detection of the foot movement) aretypically not disposed there. Therefore, one and the same design of thesensor electrode can be used for this vehicle, in particular for thisvehicle model, preferably including all equipment packages, andtherefore the production costs are reduced as a result of a high numberof identical parts. In addition, this arrangement has the advantage thatthe sensor electrode is disposed substantially next to the first vehicledoor and, therefore, the vehicle user is also situated laterally nextto, in particular (at least almost) outside the swivel range of thefirst vehicle door when issuing his (first) door actuation request. Thevehicle user therefore does not need to get out of the way—or onlyslightly so—of the moving first vehicle door in order to avoid acollision with the first vehicle door.

In principle, it is possible within the scope of the invention that thesensor electrode is alternatively disposed at one of the two vehiclecorner regions of the vehicle rear (in particular when the first vehicledoor is the tailgate—otherwise the sensor electrode is preferablydisposed in the vehicle corner region adjoining the correspondingvehicle side door). Likewise, it is also conceivable within the scope ofthe invention that the actuating apparatus (provided for thedisplacement of the tailgate) contains two distance sensors, which areseparate from one another, the sensor electrodes of which are eachdisposed in a vehicle corner region. In a preferred embodiment—and forthe case, in particular, in which the first vehicle door is thetailgate—the sensor electrode is disposed on a vehicle side opposite theposition of the steering wheel. In other words, the sensor electrode islocated in the right rear vehicle corner region when the steering wheelis disposed on the left side of the vehicle (i.e., the vehicle isdesigned as a left-hand drive vehicle). In the case of a vehicleconfigured as a right-hand drive vehicle, the sensor electrode istherefore preferably located, in a reversed manner, in the left rearvehicle corner region. As a result, the safety for the vehicle user isadvantageously increased when the vehicle is (properly) parked parallelto the road, at the edge of the road. In this case, the sensor electrodeis therefore typically disposed in the vehicle corner region facing awayfrom the roadway. Therefore, the vehicle user can issue the dooractuation request by the proper movement, for example, from the sidewalkand without the need to step onto the roadway.

Within the scope of the invention it is also conceivable that the sensorelectrode is oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of thevehicle. Alternatively, the sensor electrode is advantageously orientedparallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e., the sensorelectrode is disposed in the particular vehicle corner region along thelongitudinal side of the vehicle. In this case, it is particularly easyto issue the first door actuation request from the sidewalk. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the sensor electrode is curved aroundthe vehicle corner of the vehicle corner region, however. As a result,the detection range of the sensor electrode is advantageously enlarged,and therefore the vehicle user, when issuing the first door actuationrequest, can stand either behind the vehicle or laterally next to thevehicle.

In another advantageous embodiment, the actuating apparatus is designedand provided for activating not only the first vehicle door but also asecond vehicle door of the vehicle, which is advantageouslyautomatically displaceable, in particular by means of a second actuatingmotor, between an associated open position and a closed position. Inthis case, the control and evaluation unit of the actuating apparatus isdesigned, in particular, for recognizing a second door actuation requeston the basis of the detected movement and, upon recognition of thesecond door actuation request, triggering the displacement of the secondvehicle door, preferably, i.e., activating the second actuating motorfor the purpose of displacement. The second vehicle door is preferably a(vehicle) side door, in particular a sliding door.

The control and evaluation unit, for the purpose of recognizing thefirst door actuation request, is preferably designed for utilizing asignal from the distance sensor, which is characteristic for a simplekick movement (i.e., a single foot kick) in the direction of the sensorelectrode (in particular in the direction of the bumper). In particularin the case in which the actuating apparatus is configured foractivating two automatically displaceable vehicle doors, it is providedthat the control and evaluation unit, for the purpose of recognizing thesecond door actuation request, preferably utilizes a signal which ischaracteristic for a multiple, in particular, double foot kick.

The actuating apparatus according to the invention for a first vehicledoor, which is automatically displaceable between the closed positionand the open position, preferably by the first actuating motor, containsa capacitive distance sensor. This distance sensor is configured andprovided for detecting a movement of a person who is in the vicinity ofthe vehicle. In addition, the actuating apparatus contains a control andevaluation unit, which is configured (by circuitry or programming) forrecognizing a first door actuation request on the basis of the detectedmovement and, upon recognition of the first door actuation request,triggering the displacement of the first vehicle door, preferablyactivating the first actuating motor for the purpose of displacing thefirst vehicle door. The capacitive distance sensor also contains asensor electrode which, according to the invention, is configured forinstallation in a vehicle corner region which is associated with therear of the vehicle. The actuating apparatus preferably contains anadapter for this purpose, which is preformed for installation in thevehicle corner region and on which the sensor electrode of the distancesensor is held.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor electrode is configured to bedisposed, in the proper final installation position on the vehicle, inparticular on a vehicle side opposite the steering wheel position of thevehicle.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, the sensor electrode ispreferably configured to be disposed, in the proper final installationposition on the vehicle, so as to be curved around the vehicle corner ofthe vehicle corner region.

In another advantageous embodiment, the actuating apparatus isconfigured for activating an additional (second), automaticallydisplaceable vehicle door, in particular a second actuating motorassociated with this second vehicle door. In this case, the control andevaluation unit of the actuating apparatus is configured, in particular,for recognizing a second door actuation request on the basis of thedetected movement and, upon recognition of the second door actuationrequest, triggering the displacement of the second vehicle door, i.e.,in particular, activating the second actuating motor.

According to the invention, the actuating apparatus is utilized in avehicle. In this case, the actuating apparatus is configured andprovided for displacing a first vehicle door, which is automaticallydisplaceable between a closed position and an open position, preferablyby a first actuating motor. To this end, the actuating apparatus has acapacitive distance sensor for detecting a movement of a person who isin the vicinity of the vehicle, and also has a control and evaluationunit. In this case, the control and evaluation unit is configured (bycircuitry or programming) for recognizing a first door actuation requeston the basis of the detected movement and, upon recognition of the firstdoor actuation request, triggering the displacement of the first vehicledoor, in particular activating the first actuating motor for the purposeof displacing the first vehicle door. According to the invention, asensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor is disposed in avehicle corner region associated with the rear of the vehicle in thiscase.

In one advantageous embodiment, the actuating apparatus is utilized insuch a way that the sensor electrode is disposed, in particular, on avehicle side opposite the steering wheel position of the vehicle.

In another advantageous embodiment, the actuating apparatus is utilizedin such a way that the sensor electrode is curved around the vehiclecorner of the vehicle corner region.

In an additional or optional, advantageous embodiment, the actuatingapparatus is utilized for displacing not only the first vehicle door butalso a second, automatically displaceable vehicle door. In this case,the control and evaluation unit is configured for recognizing a seconddoor actuation request, which is directed to the second vehicle door, onthe basis of the detected movement and, upon recognition of the seconddoor actuation request, triggering the displacement of the secondvehicle door, in particular activating an actuating motor associatedwith the second vehicle door (referred to as the second actuatingmotor).

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a vehicle having an actuating apparatus for a vehicle door, anactuating apparatus and use of an actuating apparatus, it isnevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, top view of a vehicle having an actuatingapparatus for a vehicle door according to the invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top views showing a view according to FIG. 1 offurther exemplary embodiments of the actuating apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Parts that are the same are always labeled using the same referencenumbers in all the figures.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first,particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a vehicle 1 which, viewedlooking in a direction of travel 2 (forward driving), contains twovehicle doors referred to as front side doors 4 and two vehicle doorsreferred to as rear side doors 6. Moreover, the vehicle 1 containsanother vehicle door, which is disposed at a rear 8 and is referred toas a tailgate 10. In addition, the vehicle 1 contains an actuatingapparatus 12 and an actuating motor 14, which is coupled to the tailgate10 so as to transmit force. The tailgate 10 is therefore configured tobe automatically opened and closed, i.e., displaced between an openposition and a closed position.

The actuating apparatus 12 in this case is configured and provided forcontactlessly deducing a door actuation request from a person,specifically the vehicle user and, upon recognition of the dooractuation request, therefore displacing the tailgate 10. For thispurpose, the actuating apparatus 12 contains a capacitive distancesensor 16 having a sensor electrode 18. The distance sensor 16 isconfigured for detecting an approach and, therefore, the movement of thevehicle user by a (capacitance) measurement relative to ground. For thispurpose, the sensor electrode 18, together with a nearest groundedobject (the vehicle user), forms a sensor capacitor having a sensorcapacitance. The detected values of the sensor capacitance (or a measureof this sensor capacitance such as, e.g., a displacement current) arefed to a control and evaluation unit 20 of the actuating apparatus 12.The control and evaluation unit is configured for recognizing themovement and, on the basis thereof, the door actuation request of thevehicle user on the basis of the changes in the values of the sensorcapacitance. Specifically, in this case, the control and evaluation unit20 compares the detected change in the values of the sensor capacitanceto a stored reference curve, which is characteristic for a predefinedmovement sequence. If there is a sufficient match, i.e., if the changein the values of the sensor capacitance is within a predefined tolerancewith respect to the reference curve, the control and evaluation unit 20deduces the presence of the door actuation request. After that, thecontrol and evaluation unit 20 activates the actuating motor 14 for thepurpose of displacing the tailgate 10.

In the installed state shown, the sensor electrode 18 is orientedparallel to the direction of travel 2 and is disposed in a vehiclecorner region, specifically in the right rear (vehicle) corner 22 of thevehicle 1. The sensor electrode 18 is therefore disposed on the side ofthe vehicle 1 opposite a steering wheel 24. As a result, the sensorelectrode 18 and, therefore, also the measurement range of the distancesensor 16, within which the vehicle user issues his door actuationrequest, is oriented toward the side of the vehicle 1 facing away fromtraffic, provided the vehicle 1 is parked properly and parallel to theroadway. The vehicle user is therefore protected against the traffic onthe roadway.

Moreover, the sensor electrode 18 is disposed in a bumper 26, whichcovers the rear 8 of the vehicle 1. This is advantageous since a kickmovement in the direction of the sensor electrode 18 is utilized as themovement for the door actuation request. The kick movement is a movementof the foot according to the arrow 28 (illustrated in FIG. 2 by way ofexample), which movement extends toward and away from the distancesensor 16.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the sensorelectrode 18 is curved around the corner 22 of the vehicle 1. The kickmovement of the vehicle user indicated by the arrow 28 can therefore becarried out in the region of the corner 22 behind the vehicle 1 orlaterally next to the vehicle 1. The detection range of the sensorelectrode 18 is therefore enlarged.

In another exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the vehicle 1contains only one rear side door 6 disposed on the right side of thevehicle. This side door 6 is designed as a sliding door in this case,which can be automatically opened and closed by a second actuating motor30. In this exemplary embodiment, the actuating apparatus 12 isconfigured for displacing not only the tailgate 10 but also the sidedoor 6. The tailgate 10, therefore, is a first vehicle door, and theside door 6 is a second vehicle door, the assigned (first or second)actuating motor 14 or 30, respectively, of which is activated by theactuating apparatus 12. The control and evaluation unit 20 of theactuating apparatus 12 is configured, in this case, fordistinguishing—on the basis of the foot movement of the vehicle user—afirst door actuation request directed to the displacement of thetailgate 10 from a second door actuation request directed to thedisplacement of the side door 6. Specifically, a simple kick movementaccording to the arrow 28 in the direction of the distance sensor 16 isinterpreted to be a “tailgate-door actuation request” (first dooractuation request). A double kick movement (i.e., two successive kickmovements) is interpreted to be a “side door-door actuation request”(second door actuation request). If a control and evaluation unit 20recognizes the double kick movement, it then activates the secondactuating motor 30 for the purpose of displacing the side door 6.

The object of the invention is not limited to the above-describedexemplary embodiments. Rather, further embodiments of the invention canbe derived from the above description by a person skilled in the art. Inparticular, the individual features of the invention, which aredescribed on the basis of the different exemplary embodiments, and theirvariant configurations can also be combined with one another in anothermanner.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and thecorresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

-   1 vehicle-   2 direction of travel-   4 side door-   6 side door-   8 rear-   10 tailgate-   12 actuating apparatus-   14 actuating motor-   16 distance sensor-   18 sensor electrode-   20 control and evaluation unit-   22 (vehicle) corner-   24 steering wheel-   26 bumper-   28 arrow-   30 actuating motor

1. A vehicle, comprising: a first vehicle door being automaticallydisplaceable between a closed position and an open position; anactuating apparatus for said first vehicle door, said actuatingapparatus having a capacitive distance sensor with a sensor electrodefor detecting a movement of a person who is in a vicinity of thevehicle, said sensor electrode disposed in a vehicle corner regionassociated with a rear of the vehicle; and a control and evaluation unitconfigured for recognizing a first door actuation request on a basis ofa detected movement and triggering a displacement of said first vehicledoor upon recognition of the first door actuation request.
 2. Thevehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a steering wheel, saidsensor electrode is disposed on a vehicle side opposite a position ofsaid steering wheel.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein saidsensor electrode is curved around a vehicle corner of said vehiclecorner region.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising asecond vehicle door, said control and evaluation unit is configured forrecognizing a second door actuation request on a basis of the detectedmovement and triggering a displacement of said second vehicle door uponrecognition of the second door actuation request.
 5. The vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein said sensor electrode is disposed only insaid vehicle corner region.
 6. An actuating apparatus for a firstvehicle door being automatically displaceable between a closed positionand an open position, the actuating apparatus comprising: a capacitivedistance sensor for detecting a movement of a person who is in avicinity of a vehicle, said capacitive distance sensor having a sensorelectrode configured for installation in a vehicle corner regionassociated with a rear of the vehicle; and a control and evaluation unitconfigured for recognizing a first door actuation request on a basis ofa detected movement and triggering a displacement of the first vehicledoor upon recognition of the first door actuation request.
 7. Theactuating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor electrodeis configured to be disposed, in a proper final installation position onthe vehicle, on a vehicle side opposite a position of a steering wheel.8. The actuating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensorelectrode is configured to be disposed, in a proper final installationposition on the vehicle, so as to be curved around a vehicle corner ofthe vehicle corner region.
 9. The actuating apparatus according to claim6, wherein said control and evaluation unit is configured forrecognizing a second door actuation request on a basis of a detectedmovement and triggering a displacement of a second vehicle door uponrecognition of the second door actuation request.
 10. The actuatingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor electrode isconfigured to be disposed, in a proper final installation position onthe vehicle, so as to be only in the vehicle corner region.
 11. A methodof opening a door of a vehicle, which comprises the steps of: providingan actuating apparatus having a capacitive distance sensor for detectinga movement of a person who is in a vicinity of the vehicle; providing acontrol and evaluation unit configured for recognizing a first dooractuation request for a first vehicle door, which is automaticallydisplaceable between a closed position and an open position, on a basisof a detected movement and triggering a displacement of the firstvehicle door upon recognition of the first door actuation request; anddisposing a sensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor in avehicle corner region which is associated with a rear of the vehicle.12. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises disposingthe sensor electrode of the capacitive distance sensor curved around avehicle corner of the vehicle corner region.
 13. The method according toclaim 11, which further comprises disposing the sensor electrode of thecapacitive distance sensor only in the vehicle corner region.